Amusement ride device



April 22, 1941. v, STANZEL 1 I 2,239,542 AMUSEMENT RIDE DEVICE Filed Aug.- 8, 195a 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 5M 14 NW Manna/a April 22, 1941- v. STANZEL 2,239,542

AMUSEMENT RIDE bnvlcs Filed Aug. a 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Home JmA/zu.

' April 1941- v; STANZEL 2 2,239,542

AMUSEMENT RIDE DEVICE Filed Aug. s, 1958 v 4 Sheets-Sheet s V 3mm a VICTOR JrA/vza April 22, 194.1.

V. STANZEL AMUSEMENT RIDE DEVICE 4 sheetsksheet 4 Fild Aug. 8, 1938 Wcme Jm/vzu.

mm mm Patented Apr. 22,1941" a UNITED .STATES IPATENTIGOFFICE AMUSEMENT aim: nnvrcr:

Victor Stanzel, Schulenburg, Tex.-

. s'cnims. This invention relates to an amusement ride device.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's co-pending application, Serial No.

217,430, for Amusement ride device, filed July 5,

an amusement ride device embodying suspended passenger-carrying ships so mounted that they will move outwardly, by centrifugal force, upon rotation, with their normal vertical plane, that is, their vertical plane while at rest, being at substantially right angles to their common axis.

of rotation while the ships are in motion.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the central axis about which the ship's revolve, and which is normally vertical, may be varied, or rocked back and forth in a vertical plane thus causing the axis about which the ships revolve to assume different angles with relation to its normal vertical position and in turn causing the ships to move around in planes varying from a horizontal 'plane.

A further object of the invention is to' provide a form of the' device wherein mechanical means are provided to swing the ships into horizontal,

' or approximately horizontal,.position, rather than to rely upon centrifugal force to accomplish that purpose.

It is another object of the invention to provide an amusement ride device wherein the passenger ships, when at rest, .will assume their normal vertical position aboutui common loading platform, thus conducing to ease in loading the ships, resulting in a saving in loading time.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Flgure 1 shows a side elevation, partly in sec- Akpplication August 8, 1938, Serial No. 223,623

tion, of the device showing the near and the far ships removed.

Figure 2 shows a plan view, partly broken away.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a control valve employed.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the upper end of the stand.

Figure 5 shows a similar view thereof taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 4.

' Figure 6 shows a sideelevation of the device in full action moving about a central axis tilted from the vertical.

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary plan view of another embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 8 shows a fragmentary side elevation. Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates a tubular stand whose upper end" is closed by a transverse partition 2 thus forming an enclosed chamber 3, partly filled with liquid, under pressure, thus forming a pressure tank. The stand is suitably anchored in place between guy rods 4 and is mounted on a suitable base 5. Surrounding the stand at the required elevation is a platform 5a with the tiers of steps 5 leading thereto for access of the passengers to the platform. Pivotally mounted in the fork icon the upper end of the stand by means of a cross shaft 1a there is a spindle I and extending laterally from this spindle is an arm lower end of the cylinder is Pivotally connected 8 whose free end is pivotally connected to the plunger rod 9 which works through the stufling box III in the head of the cylinder II and which has a plunger l2 thereon in said cylinder. The

to an ear I311 carried by the stand. Accordingly, as the plunger is moved the arm 8 will be correspondingly moved, thus moving the spindle I to the desired angle of inclination, On the spindle I a hub I3 is mounted to rotate, said hub terminating at its lower end in an annular brake rim I. The usual brake shoes as l 5 are mounted on the spindle I within the rim I. The brake construction is of the hydraulically or pneumatic type operable by fluid pressure in the stand I, exerted through the pipe I 6 which is connected into the pressure chamber 3 and which may be applied or released through a conventional valve i1 incorporated into the pipe l6.

On the hub are the radially ex ended beams ll of any selected constructiom preferably of truss work construction. These beams revolve about the spindle i in approximately a horizontal plane. Hinged to the outer ends of the beam I! on are capable of swinging outwardly into approximatelyhorizontal position under the influence of centrifugal force when the device is in operation. The passenger ships are rigidly attached to the inner sides of the arms l9 so that when the device is in operation the ships will be underslung. Each ship is equipped with a propeller 2| driven from a suitable electric motor indicated generally by the numeral 22. The electrical power is delivered from a suitable source through the wiring 23 tothe brushes 24.which contact with the rings 25 on the spindle I and the circuit is thence completed to the respective motors through the wiring 26 whereby electrical energy may be supplied through the wiring, the contact mechanism to the frame and thence through the wiring 26 to the motors. The radially extended beams l8 are securely anchored to the hub l3 to form a rigid structure. When in motion the beams will revolve about the spindle I as an axis, the arms l9 assuming a position rangingfrom vertical to horizontal depending on the speed of rotation. It may be noted that the ships are moved forwardly by the rotation of the propellers 2| and their speed may be suitably controlled in any conventional manner by the speed of the motors 22 and may be brought to rest by the application of the brake mechanism i4, IS. The ships have s'uitable'slde entrance doors 21 for entrance of the passengers and are provided with the passenger seats 28 as shown.

It is tobe here noted that in the illustration shown the propellers are mounted to the rear of the ships and with the ships traveling in a counter-clockwise direction.

With the ships at rest the arms l9 will swing in a. vertical position as shown in Figure 1 and the depending catches 29, carried by said ships will be engaged by the spring latches 30 on the margin 01' the platform 5a to hold the ships stationary while being loaded, said latch being releasable when it is desired to start the apparatus in motion. Upon starting of the propellers 2 I, the ships will begin to revolve, the arms l9 swinging outwardly and upon reaching maximum speed the arms l9 will assume a horizontal position with the ships swinging beneath the outer end of said arms as indicated in Figure 2. The centrifugal force, however, will hold the passengers upright with respect to the seats. 28 on which they are seated.

For appearance only the outer ends of the arms l9 may be equipped with wings or vanes 3 I, it desired.

With the spindle I in vertical position as shown in Figure 1 the ships will travel about a horizontal plane. This plane of travel, however, may be varied if desired.

The level of the liquid in the, chamber 3, and the consequent air pressure above the level of the liquid may be maintained by means of a suitable motor 32 which drives a pump 33 by means of which oil or other liquid may be takenfrom the tank 34 through the intake line 35 leading from said tank and connected into the pump and discharged into the chamber 3 with the delivery line 33 leading from the pump. The motor 32, of course, may be controlled by automatic equipment provided for the purpose. 7

Leading from the chamber 3 there is a pipe 31 which is connected into a valve casing 33 and leading from said casing there is a pipe 39 which is connected into the tank 34. The pressure lines 40, 4| are connected into the cylinder I l on opposite sides of the piston l2 and are also connected into the valve casing 38. In the casing 33 there is a turnable valve 42 which may be operated by a suitable handle 43. The valve has the transverse channels 44, therethrough.

When the valve is turned into one position, as for example, that shown in Figure 3, pressure will be applied through the pipe 31 and the channel 44 and the pipe 40 to one side of the plunger l2 and the pipes 39, 4| will be connected through" the channel 45 so that the liquid, under pressure, in the chamber 3 will be delivered into the cylinder H above the piston l2 and the liquid will be relieved from said cylinder on the opposite side of said plunger back into the tank 34. By a suitable turning of the valve 42 the pipe 31 may be connected with the pipe 4| thus delivering pressure fluid into the cylinder H on the other side of the piston l2 and relieving the pressure fluid from the cylinder through the pipes 40, 33 back into the tank 34. The plunger l2 may thus'be moved in its cylinder l I, operating through the piston rod 9 to which the angle of the spindle 1,

as desired, from the vertical so as to cause the ships to move in other than a horizontal plane.

The spindle may be maintained in any selected position, relative to the vertical by turning the valve 42 so as to close the channels 44, 45,

It is obvious that the course of the ships may be varied, within certain limits, at the will of the operator. If the spindle 1 is maintained in vertical position, the ships will move around horizontally and by suitably manipulating the valve 42 v the course of the ships about "a vertical axis may be varied depending on variations in the movement of the spindle I from a vertical position.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, the passenger ships 20a are pivoted to rotate on horizontal axes on the outer ends of the arms l9a which, in turn, are pivoted, to the beams I. as shown in the other figures. On the spindle la, the hub I3b is mounted to rotate and is secured against displacement by the, transverse key 46 through said spindle. Rotatable on the hub I33, there is a worm gear 41 which is in mesh with and is driven by the worm 43. This worm is operatively connected with and driven by a suitable motor .49 under the control of the operator. There is a cable,. as 50, for each arm 19a, one end of said cable being attached to the outer end of the corresponding arm 19a and the other end of the cable being attached to a sheave 5| which is fixed to the gear 41. Each cable 50 works over a grooved segment of a sheave 52 on the outer thereupon stopped and the worm 48 will hold the' gear 41 against reverse rotation to hold the arms l9a in horizontal position. The ships 20a will hang vertically from the outer ends of said arms until carried outwardly into horizontal position by centrifugal force.

If desired, the ships may be locked in a fixed position relative to the arms I 9a, either before or after they are elevated to horizontal position. The latch mechanism comprises a. bracket 53 in the form of a right angle and which is attached to the ship. One arm of this bracket extends inwardly and is provided with a notch 54 to receive the spring actuated latch 55 which is on the arm r 2,239,542 I-Qa. When the latch is engaged in said notch,

it will lock the ship in rigid relation with the arm Ha. This latch maybe released by a cable 56 accessible to an operator. Any other type of latch mechanism suitable for the purpose may be provided.

In other respects the embodiment illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 is the same as that illustrated in the other figures.

What I claim is: 10

1. An amusement ride device comprising a stand, radial beams mounted to rotate on the stand, ship supports pivotally connected to and depending from the beams and swingable outwardly, means partly on the stand and partly on the beams for swinging said supports outwardly into approximately horizontal position, ships pivoted on the outer ends of these supports, and means for holding said ships in a fixed position relative tothe supports. .20

2. An amusement ride device comprising a stand, radial beams mounted to rotate on the stand, ship supports pivotally connected to and depending from the beams and swingable outwardly, means partly on the stand and partly on the beams and including motor operated cables for swinging said supports outwardly into selected angle to the vertical, ships pivoted on the outer ends of these supports, and means for temporarily holding said ships in a fixed position relative to the supports. I

3. An amusement ride device comprising a stand, a shipsupporting structure including radial beams mounted to rotate on the stand,

arms pivoted to the outer ends of the beams and normally hanging in approximately vertical position and which are swinga'ole outwardly, ships attached'to the lower ends of said' swinging arms. alifting device comprising flexible tension'members connected to the arms and-means on the 0 ride device, under the control of an operator, for controlling the tension on said members whereby to control the position of said arms with respect to the vertical.

4. In an amusement device, a transverse sup- 4:; porting structure. a ship hanger depending from an end of said supporting ,structure by a pivotal connection therewith, a cable guide mounted at said connection, a cable threaded over the guide and one end of which is operatively connected sowith the sh'ip hanger, means including a sheave connected to the other end of the cable for applyingatensiontosaidcabletocausethe hanger to be rotated into alignment with the supporting 5. An amusement device comprising an upright stand, a spindle mounted to pivot on the upper end of the stand, means for oscillating the spindle relative to the stand, a transverse supporting structure rotatably mounted on the spindle, a ship hanger pivotally connected to the end of, and depending from, the supporting structure, means adapted to cause the hanger to be rotated, against the influence of gravity, into alignment with the supporting structure, a ship connected to the other end of the hanger, a driving propeller mounted on the ship, an electric motor for rotating the propeller to thereby cause the supporting structure, hanger and ship to rotate as a unit about the spindle. Y

6. In an amusement device including an upright stand, a transverse supporting structure on top of the stand and ships supported by the ends of the structure; means for pivotally and rotatably connecting the stand and transverse supporting structure comprising a fork formed on the upper end of the stand, a spindle pivotally connected to the fork, a laterally extending arm connected to the spindle, a rod connected to the arm by which the spindle and arm may 'be 05- cillated and ahub rotatable on the spindle and upon which the supporting structure is mounted.

7. In an amusement ride device including an upright stand, a ship supporting structure on top of the stand and ships supported by the ends of the structure; a spindle, said spindle and stand being provided one with a fork shaped to receive the adjacent end of the other, means forming an upright stand. a ship supporting structure on top of the stand and ships supported by the ends of the structure; means for pivotally and rotatably connecting the supporting structure to the stand comprising a hub and spindle relatively rotatable about a common axis and one ilxedto the supporting structure and the other pivotedon.

the stand to move about an approximately horinontal'axis, a laterally extending arm connected to the hub and spindle assembly, a rod connected to the arm by which said arm'and said assembly may be oscillated to vary-the plane of rotation of the supporting structure. U

VICDOR STANZEL. 

